Hey Broder, do you remember the Giant Story/Mouse Tale? No? Think twice. You sure
remember the picture book featuring the redhead giant Bartolo,
sitting under a big tree in the wood during a thunderstorm with chattering
teeth! No? Don't you remember the fearless field mouse with its yellow-brown
coat and dark long stripe along the spine? The clumsy giant is about
three-thousand-times bigger than the male mouse. When the tiny mouse approaches
the giant fearlessly, looking for a friend, the timid giant panics. But in the
end both trust each other, become friends and fall asleep peacefully, the small
mouse cuddling in the big palm of the giant.

No Adam,
I don't recall the tale. But it's a fairy tale and fairy tales will never come
true in real life.

Broder,
it can happen. It even happened in my school. Remember the super-jock, the ace
of the soccer team, Pete? I told you about big Pete and I also told you about
the cute midget Tru, acting as postie between the
jocks and chicks?

Sure I
do, Adam. I remembered, you told me about the two. You were enthusiastic about
Pete's skill and powerful game as the midfielder of his team and you were
tickled pink because of Tru's job as a Cupid.

Yes,
Pete is the best soccer player. He is sure about his role in a match like
soccer with its definite rules. But big Pete falters, as soon as a situation
arises which can only be solve by developing rules by his own. In a situation
like this he is like a timid giant. The midget Tru, on the other hand, attacks
a new situation by his own means. He is like the fearless mouse.

Events remember by Adam, have the heading 'ADAM':.

Those remembered by Broder, are headed 'BRODER':.

Pete's secret

or

Pet+Tru+e

ADAM:

"Hey, is that you
Vic?" Adam wondered. He was on tiptoes trying to fetch a book from the
uppermost shelf of the book-rack in the darkest corner of school library, when
two strong arms took hold of him from behind and lifted him up. The silent
helper lifted Adam till he finally was able to read the faded golden letters on
the he back of the small volume "William Shakespeare-The Complete
Sonnets".

At last Adam was holding the
book in his hand, Vic had told him about so enthusiastic. Turning around he was
surprised, it wasn't Vic; it was Pete, in secret called Pete the Pest,
who had helped him, to get the book.

Pete, the king of the jocks and
the ace of the soccer team, was towering over Adam by
nearly a head.He asked shyly, "Did
I scare you? Sorry for that, I didn't intent to Adam. Since Monday I have
wanted to talk to you alone. And now it's already Wednesday and I had to waylay
you."

Adam looked up at Pete squinting
nervously. Before he could stutter an answer, Pete went on, "I have to
talk to you. Remember last Friday? I invited you to my birthday party this
weekend? You still haven't accepted! I will be sixteen on Friday and this time
I am allowed to invite fifteen guests. Twelve have accepted already, you are
the thirteenth."

Adam sighted with relieve.
"I accept!" then he went on in a formal, "I am honored by your
invitation, Pete, but I will come only if Vic is invited too! Remember you
asked me to bring along a friend!"

"Why in the world
he----?" Pete looked surprised. "Do you know him well enough?"

"We are friends now! Do you
object?" asked Adam surprised.

"No I don't, not exactly!
But----" showing his uneasiness, Pete added "I had in mind to ask you
to bring along someone else, someone special to me!" he looked as if all
his hopes were deceived and immediately turned to leave.

Seizing Pete by the arm,
"But Pete, Vic and I are number thirteen and fourteen on your guest list,
thus invitation number fifteen still can be issued!" Winking at Pete Adam
asked conspiratorially, "Who is she? I invite her to come along with me
and Vic!"

Pete blushed and tried to
wrestle free. But Adam didn't let him go and insisted. "Tell me Pete,
don't be afraid, I will never blow it to her, I promise!" When Pete didn't
answer, he asserted, "I will not tell her! I swear!"

Pete remained silent. His face
mirrored a desperate fight. Staring at his toecaps he finally muttered with his
crackling teen-voice, "It's not a girl, its Tru! I wanted to beg you to
bring Trewin along! I do not dare to ask him myself!"

Adam stared at Pete in
disbelief. Could he trust his ears? But Pete sounded serious! Pete, the big
Pete, the ace of the soccer team, the super-jock, was he admiring Tru? Pete,
the head of the jocks which always were talking about laying girls; which were
always boasting about their successes with girls! Pete had asked him to bring
along a boy? Not just any boy, Tru the cutest boy of the class. In Adams
eyes, Tru was even the cutest kid of the Oakville High! He couldn't believe
this news at the first moment. Then it sank in. To Adam's knowledge, Pete was
the only jock who had never bragged about having made out with girls.

Studying Pete's face carefully,
Adam said with firm voice "I will ask Tru to come along with me and Vic.
Ok? Don't fret, I will not tell Tru, that you asked me to bring him along! I
really like to bring him along! He is the nicest kid in school!"

Pete's chest heaved with a sight
of relief. Shamefaced he hugged Adam and left the library head over heels.

*.*.*

BRODER:

Broder folded his grey business suit into the
suitcase. He was waiting impatiently for Adam. HE and Vic were out to support
Zach's soccer team at the town-tournament. It was half
past ten already and dark outside. Not the falling night made
him nervous; because he was sure three boys would be able to defend themselves
when attacked. No, it was the fact that he had to leave Adam alone for three
days after just one and a half week in his new home in a new town. Then there
was the book he had found open on Adam's desk when he had looked for him after
coming home from work. Broder wondered; how in heaven would a teen like Adam
take an interest in Shakespeare's sonnets and especially in lines like these:

Shall
I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou
art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough
winds do shake the darling buds of May

And
summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime
too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And
often is his gold complexion dimm'd; ...

Broder knew it was the most famous sonnet of
Shakespeare. But what the hell tempted a boy to read poems suspected to be
homoerotic?

There was time to brood longer about this
question; because the street door burst open with a bang and Zach's
high-pitched boy's voice filled the corridor, "Hey Broder! Believe me or
not! Our team came off only second best in the soccer tournament! We were the
top team! The referee cheated us! He denied us two goals! He always claimed
Lilek had scored in offside position! Ask Adam and Vic!"

That was Zach! Typically Zach! The six-grader,
soaked with sweat and dirty from head to toe, charged into Broder's room
demanding attention and consolation. Adam, his arm across Vic shoulders,
followed grinning, "I guess the referee wasn't that blind, Zach. Judging
from my position, Lilek was offside!"

"You are stupid, Adam!" Zach accused
Adam full of contempt, gave him one full in the stomach and left outraged for
home.

"I better try to consol Zach." Vic
grinned, "In a state like this he will likely play havoc and burn down the
house!" He left, not without given Adam a peck on the cheek.

Adam blushed, looking at Broder he muttered
"It is not the way you may guess! In our class anyone does it!"

"I am not guessing anything, but I like
what I saw!"

This made Adam blush even more. Sitting down
on Broder's bed beside the open bag, he complained, "You are a terrible
father, you are leaving me just when I need your help!"

"You didn't complain when we talked about
my trip yesterday and anyway, I am sure you know a nice way to spend the
time." grinning maliciously, "Vic will sure watch over your
sleep!"

Adam pouted, "It's not that! Didn't I
tell you about Pete's birthday party! He asked me again today. I accepted to
bring along Vic and Tru; remember Tru, the Cupid?"

"You know that is impossible, I can't
drive you to Pete's father's farm on Friday. Since I am away till Sunday, I
can't get you back before Sunday either! Couldn't Vic's father give you a
ride?"

"Impossible, he is away already since
three days! Please get us there, please Dad!" Adam tried hard to persuade
Broder, "Please Dad, I promised Pete I would come,
he will be heartbroken if we do not show up!"

Broder looked surprised. He had met Pete last
year, when he supervised the installation of a system for groundwater
extraction at the farm. This hunky boy looked like he was eighteen and sure not
like a ninth grader. "Hey Adam, don't exaggerate. Pete? Getting
heartbroken because of you, or Vic or Tru? Are you pulling a leg on me?"

"I'm not supposed to tell you! I promised
Pete to bring Tru along and its not your business to
know why!"

Broder was in a dilemma, he had to solve
Adam's problem. His boy looked just too disappointed. He looked as if he would
start crying. "I know Pete's father pretty well. I call him and ask if you
three could stay there till I pick you up on Sunday. But you have to go to the
farm by bus!"

Switching on the loudspeaker of the phone,
Adam was able to follow the conversation: "Sure I do, your companies did a
perfect job last year. The water well just runs perfect. Now we have ample
drinking water for us and our animals, very clean and tasty. You want to give
the system a check-up?"

"No, I am glad you are happy with our
system. Today it's something personal! Your son Pete is giving birthday party
on Friday, right?"

"Right, did that crazy boy invite you
also? He has invited nearly all his school mates. For day's now he is jumpy
like a virgin on her bridal night. I didn't expect he will invite the whole
town!"

"No Mr. Tyler! But he has invited my son
Adam and his friends Vic and Tru."

"I thought you are not married Broder! My
wife told me last year: Such a nice man and
not married. You know how women are! They just can't see a happy man. Now
what's the problem?"

"I am out of town this weekend. The boys
can take the afternoon-bus to come to you, but I can't pick up the boys after
the party neither can the parents of the other boys.
Can they stay in one of your cottages? I pay for it!"

"Ah, no problem, holiday season is over
anyway and the cabins are not needed. They can stay here for nothing, till you
can pick the boys up. They are welcome! Pete needs the company of boys of his
age. He looks sort of distressed lately and his brothers are much older than
he! On Friday afternoon, Johnny, my oldest son, will take care of the transport
to the farm. He is in town anyway and can pick the boys up after school."

Broder got a big smile from Adam. And Adam
surprised him once more. He picked up the second receiver before Broder was
able to thank Pete's father, "Hi, I am, Adam Chas Ryder. Thanks Mr. Tyler.
You are so generous. I am really happy to be Pete's guest and tell him I will
bring two friends. I will bring along Vic and Tru! Tell Pete Tru has
accepted."

*.*.*

ADAM:

On Friday Pete missed classes.
His mother told the school office that Pete was sick and later called up his
friends telling that the party would take place in any case. For Adam the
message was, to wait with his friends at the bus stop for Pete's big brother
Johnny.

Waiting impatiently with Adam
and Vic, Tru asked "Adam, is it Johnny or Paul, who will pick us up?"

"Do you know Pete's
brothers?" Adam asked back curiously, because he had, had such a hard time
to convince Tru to come along. His behavior had suggested that he was afraid of
meeting Pete at the farm. Only after telling him, I don't intend to bring you to the slaughter house like an innocent
lamb, it just to Pete's and he really wants you around! Tru agreed to come.
These last words broke the ice. Tru gave up his resistance and began to smile
like a baby getting a lollipop.

"Well yes, I know all his
five brothers. Three are at the college, but Johnny and Paul are at home and
run the farm!"

Tru couldn't elaborate anymore,
because a beat-up SUV stopped and a bear-like man opened the side door
hollering happily, "Hi Trewin, where have you been all the time? Little
Billy is asking for you nearly every day! Where is Tru, I want my big friend
back! ... Why didn't you show up for several months, Trewin?" Loading their
backpacks into the trunk, he asked, pointing at Vic, "And you are Adam I
guess, the new guy in class?"

"Can't you remember me
Johnny? I am Vic! And that's Adam! We met last year at Pete's birthday
party."

After Tru had settled down on
the front passenger seat, Johnny tousled his hairs and then hugged him,
"Are you and Pete on brotherly terms again, Trewin? My little brother was
grief-stricken because you avoided him!"

Huggling
together in the back seat, Adam breathed into Vic ear, "What the hell
happened between Pete and Tru? Do you know the story?"

Johnny stopped at the vacation
cottages, a quarter of a mile from the farm. The five cabins were arranged in a
half circle around a fireplace and faced a small creek. He unlocked the
smallest cabin ordering, "Leave your backpack in the main-room. You can
sleep in the backroom. Each of the two beds is wide enough to accommodate two
boys of your size."

At the farm they were welcomed
by little Billy, jumping excitedly at Tru and shouting, "Pete hurry up!
Tru has arrived, my big friend Tru!" then taking Tru by the hand he
dragged him to a small enclosure on the lawn, "Look! You haven't seen my
bunnies! They have babies now! Nine babies! Look at the black one with the
white ears. Do you like it? I give it to you, you can keep it!"

Meanwhile Pete came running. He
did the high-five with Adam and Vic, after that looked slyly at Tru, "I
have to show you something, Tru! Would you come along? Please!" Neglecting
the protests of little Billy, Pete abducted Tru to the barn.

Pete and Tru were blushing up to
their ears, when they finally came back to the enclosure with the bunnies,
holding hands. Adam and Vic asked in unison, "Reconciled?" Neither of
them did answer, not Pete nor Tru. But Adam and Vic were sure; everything was
on a good way.

*.*.*

Little Billy, his parents, his
brothers Johnny and Paul, and fifteen of his schoolmates had rallied around
Pete and the table with the birthday cake. "One, two, three..."
It rang out in the patio. Their voices rising more and more they counted on,
"...ten, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen and gooooo!" and the birthday kid began to blow out the
sixteen candles on the birthday cake with a single puff. With a reddened face,
gasping for air, big Pete collapsed in the arms of four of his school mates,
who now struggled to throw their heavy school mate up into the air. The others
started to bawl the song "Happy Birthday, dear Pete! Happy
Birthday to you!"

Then the gifts were presented.
The four girls invited, kissed Pete first and then handed over a t-shirt with
the emblem of OakvilleHigh
school and the CD "HOT FUSS"
by the Killers, singing:

Somebody told
me

You had a
boyfriend

Who looked
like a girlfriend

That I had in
February of last year...

The jocks started to giggle,
when Pete unpacked their gift, neatly wrapped in foil decorated with red roses.
It was the favorite, but ill-famed teen-book "Doing it". In class it was passed only underhandedly.
Pete turned red after reading the title and tried to hide it from his mother,
but in vain, "Oh a book, what a proper present for a sixteen's
birthday!" she exclaimed. Pete's and his friends were lucky. His mother
hadn't read the furious review of it in the local parish magazine, The Holy
Week.

Still another gift was passed
underhand to Pete. "Don't show it to your parents. Open it later!"
the giver whispered. When Pete opened it in presence of Tru later, he grinned
crafty like a cartload of monkeys "Not one of my sport mates did guess my
secret, bet! Hey look Tru, they endowed me with half a
dozen of rubbers in different colors and a tube of lube. Do you think we need
these? Bet not!"

Adam and Vic had, had a stormy
discussion before deciding as a gift for "Funny Boy". Adam had asked
Vic pointedly. "Do you really think he will like this book? It's a
coming-out book!"

"I don't think he will hate
us because of this present! I like it." Vic answered confidently.

In the end only two presents
were not given, the one of his family and the one of Tru. When Pete looked
expectantly to his parents, his father told him. "The big surprise is
waiting at the playing ground down by the Holiday Cabins! But first cut the birthday
cake, the mouths of your guests are already watering."

Proud to be sixteen, Pete took
the knife to cut the cream cake. Little Billy claimed the first piece. "I
want the first piece, please, please, please Uncle Petee!"
he begged. But his granny protested, "Today the birthday kid will get the
first wedge!"

But it was not Pete who allotted
himself the first slice. Looking around in the circle, he handed Tru the first
slice with a still bigger smile: "You are the smallest, you get the
biggest!" No one played much attention to this gesture hinting a special
kind of friendship, except Pete's big brother Johnny. But Johnny smiled in
approval.

*.*.*

Pete arrived at the playing
field amidst of his curious guests. He didn't believe his eyes. For months he had
only two dreams. When Adam had asked Pete, what he would like best as a
birthday present, he had told him: "I have two big wishes, but I am afraid
neither of them will come true!"

Adam reflected over the answer
some moments and then told Pete, "My wish for a long, long time was to
find a person I could trust, a person, who loves me unconditionally. I never
thought my wish would come true! And now, now I have Broder. He found me, a
disheartened boy, dirt covered, in filthy clothes, close to dead after an
accident. He accepted me like I was and he made me his son without setting a
single condition." Then smiling up to Pete and punching him, "You
wishes will come true! Believe me!"

Since his first talk with Tru in
the barn, after his arrival, Pete's hope had risen tremendously. He was sure
that his biggest wish could come true if he only would accept his fate full
heartedly. He knew it was him who had to take his future in both hands.

The fulfillment of the second
biggest wish did depend on his parents. And now, arriving at the sports ground,
Pete realized that his parents had granted him this wish. At the sideline of
the playing field on a high pole a bright yellow flag was flying in the evening
breeze with the emblem of a fire-spitting dragon in blue and green. It was the
image of a Varanus komodoensis, the
awe-inspiring Komodo Dragon, the emblem of the team
still to be founded, his Jugger Team, the Weird Varans.

A year ago Pete had attended the
science fiction film "The Blood of Heroes" in an obscure movie theater. His mind was so
stirred up by the post-apocalyptic saga of some rotten heroes fighting their
deadly matches for bread and butter in a barren country in a forgotten time.

"I
have to get a copy of that movie!" Pete tortured his big brothers for weeks
and weeks. And after he got the movie by illegal means, he unnerved his parents
by viewing it over and over again. Then happily enough he found out about a
sport called Jugger, tailored according to the apocalyptic match and the
existence of a Jugger-League. Since that time he harassed his parents "I
want to create the first Jugger team of Dartsborough. Please, please buy me the equipment!
Please Daddy, please Mommy!"

Pete's
rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Not only was the banner was flying in the breeze,
no, all the equipment needed for a team also, for his team, was piled up on the
octagonal playground of roughly 20 to 40 m. Besides the flying banner a
scoreboard was placed and at the opposite wide side of the field the big gong
for counting the time, measured in stones. At the halfway-line a heap of
dangerous objects were lined up, the weapons: a pair of long pole arms, a pair
of long swords, the flails, two pairs short swords and the corresponding
shields and a pair of long chains with a red ball on one end. The shields and
the gong also were decorated with the emblem of the Weird Varans. In the center
of the assembled weaponry there were two dog skulls, the Juggs. These were no
real dogs skulls, dripping with blood like in the movie, just skulls made of rubber
foam. These were the balls which had to be downed in the stakes close to end
each narrow side of the field.

All his school mates on the
soccer team had been afflicted by his obsession for Jugger. Now they saw the
weapons the first time in reality. While Pete danced for joy in front of his
parents, kissed his mother and even tried to lift her up in the air, classmates
stormed the sports ground and scrambled for the weapon. They were taken by
surprise, because the weapons were light-weight only, despite looking wrought
of steel. Immediately the jocks began to fight each other for fun. The pole
arms and swords were easy to handle, while using the chains was much more
difficult. The girls used the sculls for a ball game.

Pete gave it a try to organize a
game, "Stop it all! I have to explain the rules of the game." In
vain, he couldn't stop the opponents, "Don't hit each other! You are only
supposed to touch your opponent and then he has to freeze for five
stones!" In vain again. The chaotic contest went
on and he wasn't able to make his voice heard.

Luckily his brothers Johnny and
Paul turned up on the sideline in the approaching dusk announcing at the top of
his voice, "Barbecue is ready down at the cottages! Hurry up, if you want
meat and not charcoal! Hurry up!" That did it. Twelve starved lads dropped
the weapons and the sprinted to the fireplace to be the first to get a steak.
The four girls ambled chitchatting down to the cottages also, outdoing each
other in ridiculing their pimply class mates.

The wooden benches were arranged
in a half-circle around the fireplace in front of the five cottages. The open
side of the circle faced a swift creek hidden by willow trees. Between the
cottages chains of lights glowing in red, yellow and blue were arranged. In the
beginning dusk they separated the softly lit space around the fireplace from
the dense, dark wood in the background.

Pete occupied the seat of honor
framed by the jocks of the soccer team. Adam and Vic had their place far to the
left while the four girls clucked together on the right. After the first rush
for the steaks, burgers and sausages had subsided, Pete switched on the light
illuminating a small dance platform in front of the cottages and dance tunes
invited to shake a leg. At first only girls danced with girls. But now Tru's
big time as Cupid started. He began to cruise the different groups conveying
messages to and fro between the jocks and the chicks. Soon four boys and girls
danced cheek by cheek. Other boys did the hip-hop and two even challenged each
other by break dancing. When the night closed in, one couple after the other
skived off into the dark, envied by the ones remaining single.

Around nine-thirty, the parents
turn up one after the other, wishing Pete well for the next year of life and
leaving with their offspring. Soon Adam and Vic were the only one's left back
at the fireplace. They switched off the illumination of the dance floor and the
string of lights between the cabins and cuddled silently under a warm quilt
close to the extinguishing fire.

Pete and Tru joined them at the
fireplace. Imitating the others, Pete picked up a blanket and invited Tru to
slip under the cover with him. Held tight by Vic, the scarcely audible voices
of the two reunited friends lulled Adam into a light sleep.

Adam woke up suddenly, missing
the low voices. He aroused the crashed out Vic, "Pete and Tru are gone!
Let's go to bed! I miss a soft mattress."

"Me too, my back is getting
stiff already!" Vic answered with a yawn, "But let's put out the fire
first."

Standing side by side they
extinguished the fire by relieving their full bladders.

*.*.*

The bedding was cold and damp.
Adam was first in bed and pulled the bed spread over his head. He curled up
like a baby, but he still shivered. "Hey Vic! Why
do you need that long? Come please, I am freezing!"

"I can't find my pajamas. I
have to turn my backpack topsy-turvy again. Just a second
more!"

"Forget about your pajamas,
hurry up! I haven't got tem either!"

Slipping into the bed, Vic searched
for Adam under the cover, "Hey, where do you hide.----Ha,
I got you!." Pulling Adam in a hug, he muttered "You are really cold.
Your back feels like ice and your butt too." Realizing that Adam was as
naked as his mother bore him, Vic asked, "Are you sleeping in the
nude?"

Turning around and taking Vic in
a tight embrace, Adam whispered, "I thought you would like it. Don't
you?"

Vic simple answer was to slip
out of his boxers.

Holding Adam tight, he began to
growl like a young dog, rubbed Adam's back and poked his nose in Adam's rough
up mane. Then he sighted with pleasure. "You smell so great. I like the
scent of smoke on your skin and in your hair."

Adam's only answer was kisses.
He started at Vic's forehead, went to his eyes and finally tasted his lips.
With his fingertips he traced Vic's spine down to the crack between the small
cheeks. Then he cupped Vic's butt-cheeks with both hands and started humping.
With hoarse voice he asked, "Do you like it? Do you mind it?" adding
a deep sight, "It so great to hump you!" Vic just increased his
growling and humped back like mad.

Middle of their necking, both
froze, because the cabin door opened with a screech. Anxiously they listened
for the noises penetrating the dark. They had expected Tru, but now two people had
entered. Neither Adam nor Vic dared to breath. Then they relaxed.

Tru's asked with hardly audible
voice, "Got a flashlight, Petee? They are
already sleeping. Don't turn on the lights!"

"Hush, Buddy! I will light
the candle on the table. That's enough light for us to undress and find the
bed." Pete tried to breathe his words Tru, but was unable to dampen his
husky vice. A lighter was flicked on and the light of a small candle seeped
through the open door into the bedroom.

Padding feet approached and the candle's
flame bathed the small room in soft light. Pete had entered the bedroom and
placed the candle on the night stand. A moment later Tru materialized on
tiptoes in front of Adam and Vic. "Don't fake" he whispered,
"Your fluttering eyelids betray you. You are still awake!"

Then he addressed Pete, who
tried to hide behind his small body, "Pete, you wanted to tell Adam and
Vic something very important!" waiting some time in vain for a word, he
turned around to face Pete who was at least taller by a head and persisted,
"You promised to tell them our secret. Please try it! It's an exercise for
tomorrow. It will be much harder to confess this to your parents!"

Pete still didn't speak up.
Instead he put his arms around Tru from behind and breathed, "Please to do
it for us, Tru. Please, tell our secret to Adam and Vic!"

These words made Adam and Vic
wide awake. Wrapped up in the duvet up to their necks and cuddling tight, they
eyed the pair in front of the bed full of expectance.

Reluctantly Tru turned to Adam
and Vic, talking ten to the dozens.It
seemed he had to relieve himself, "Pete has loved me for two years now.
Since our first sleep over at his fourteenth birthday, he has loved me. He
didn't tell me for over a year. Then at our last sleepover at Easter he
confessed his love to me." Turning to Pete and searching his eyes, he
continued, "I liked my Pete from the beginning, but I didn't dare to tell
him. He was the big jock. He was always with the guys who were bragging how
many girls they had laid. He was always with the jocks who scoffed about gays.
I couldn't tell him! I was sure he would make fun of me, would despise me, beat
me up and trample me to death. I thought he was homophobic."

Now it was for Pete to speak up.
In his hoarse voice, he defended himself "Tru was wrong, he did me wrong.
Tru thought a big guy like me, the crack of the soccer team, had to be
straight, would enjoy to kick smaller kids in the ass, had to be homophobic. He
did me wrong! Even before I was sure about my feelings towards Tru, I adored
him, I offered him my friendship, I showed him my
affection, always!"

"The day Pete finally told
me about his love, I suspected he wanted to put me on, he wanted to unmask me
and then throw me to the wolves." Tru seem to falter in the flickering
candle light, but then accused himself, "I had no faith in him, I
panicked, I was terrified to death! I demanded a
terrible toll. I demanded his coming out. I had been out to my parents for a
year. Knowing this, I issued an ultimatum to Pete: You have to tell your
parents first. You have to come out to your school mates, to the whole
school."

Pete smiled down to the smaller
boy, tussling his hairs. "Everything is alright
now Tru, my Tru! Don't cry, please!"

"No, I have to tell Adam
and Vic how vain I was." Tru sobbed, "Pete was upset; he was
desperate. He swore: I can't tell this to
my parents! Never,
never will they accept me being gay!"

"I was in panic! I didn't
even become aware, when Trewin braced together and offered to expose himself
too and told: I'lldo it with you, Pete! We will come out
together I love you!" Holding each other, Pete and Tru were standing
in the dark quivering with emotion.

Then Pete addressed Adam in a
solemn tone, "You are special Adam. Your performance in school, plucked up
my courage. I became sure that Tru and I belong together when I realized how
proudly you announced your new name, unafraid of the gossip about your adoption
by celibate man. You rose in my esteem, when you showed your affection to Vic
openly in school. Your self-confidence convinced me that my love for Tru is
worth my coming out."

These words made Adam feel
uncomfortable; he felt his blood rushing into the face. That can't be true, he
thought, I am not self-confident at all.

Vic began to hug Adam more
tightly. After a moment of silence he replied, "Yes, Adam is special, I
agree," and changing the tone of his voice, "but Broder is too. And
he is not Adams
old man, nor is Adam his boy-toy. I know Broder well; he doesn't make out with
boys."

Silence spread in the room. Then
Adam asked Pete in the wavering light of the dieing candle, "When you came
out to me and Vic tonight, was it your own decision, Pete?"

"Yes, it was my decision.
Tru withdrew his ultimatum today. He was broken-hearted; he didn't want to live
on, knowing he had hurt my feelings by his request."

Now Tru spoke up with hardly
audible voice, "Already the day after issuing my request to Pete, I
realized how deeply I had wounded him. But I was too ashamed to ask forhis forgiveness.
I thought he hated me. I was sure Pete would never want me as his friend again.
At home I cried every night and in school I acted as if nothing had happened, I
had to!."

The candle had died away. The
moon had risen over the wood and his silvery rays seeped through the small window.
"No need for crying anymore, my truelove. You never again shall cry out of
pain, only out of joy. I will care for it. I promise!" Pete picked up Tru
like a baby and carried him to their bed.

When Tru's uncontrollable
sobbing had subsided, Vic called over, "Thanks for coming out to us first!
Thanks for being so brave, both of you"

"It was the easiest part of
our coming out. Thanks to you both, my thanks and Pete's!"

"I never came out to
anyone!" Adam giggled, "Not even to Vic!"

"Aren't you gay?" Vic
sniggered, "Are I am seducing you?"

"I don't care! I know I
love you and you love me! That's all I need to know! I don't care if people
call me gay or straight or bi! I don't care what people call me! I just know, I am as I am!" Adam replied.

Then trying to pierce the dark,
Adam asked "Are you sure you want to come out to your parents tomorrow,
Pete?"

Pete's voice hinted his
insecurity "I have to, I have sworn to myself to see it through to the
finish!"

"Are you sure they will
accept your revelation without being shocked? Are you sure they will love you
as unconditionally as they did before. Are you sure they will accept Tru as
their son? Are you sure they will love Tru they way they like you?"

Silence spread through the room
till Tru's soft voice pervaded the darkness, "Please don't do it Pete;
please don't. I am not worth the breakup between you and your parents!"

"But you
my Tru? Weren't you scared of coming out to your
parents?"

"I was sure my parents
wouldn't object! I was kind of out to my parent anyway, because of all the
picture of you in my room. Already a year ago one evening my father asked me
smiling: "Is this the photo of your boyfriend, you are using as a
screensaver on your PC? His photos are everywhere in your room. Is this Pete,
the captain of the soccer team? I like him!"

Silence filled the small room,
till Vic addressed Pete, "Don't rush it, Pete. Your parents have to be
ready for this new phase in your live and in their lives. You and they need
accompany during this turn of live. You need a mediator!"

Silence hovered in the room
again, till Adam stated, "I think I know the person who can act as a
mediator, Pete. It's Johnny, your big brother, he loves you and he loves Tru
also. You can trust Johnny. I am sure!"

*.*.*

For the next minutes Adam and
Vic relaxed exhausted by the stirring events of the day. Cuddling each other,
they soon got excited again and continued the exploration of each others
bodies. When Adam listened to Vic's heartbeat by resting his head on the friend's
chest, he witnessed Pete's sweets words, "Watch out Tru, my truelove!
Watch out, making love to you this way will hurt you. I am much too heavy to be
on top of you! You have to be on top of me. I love to rock you like a
baby."

In the morning Adam couldn't
remember how often he had made love to Vic, but his belly was sticky all over.
When he tried to caress Vic's chest, his fingers nearly got stuck to the sticky
skin. Buried halfway under Vic, Adam started to tickle him and breathed,
"Wake up, Vic! Sun is out! I have to pee!Hurry or do you want me to wet the bed?"

Vic growled like a tired dog,
stretched and crawled away. Soon he joined Adam in the shower. Tru showed up
when they cleaned each other in the small shower using ample amounts of
baby-shampoo to rinse off the traces of the nightly fun.

Tru pouted and stuck his tongue
to Vic. Adam opened the shower-door and pulled Tru inside, "A bride needs
to be clean when she is introduced to her parents in law! Come let Daddy clean
you!"

Tru started laughing full
heartedly, "You better ask Pete who's the bride and who's the groom. I
didn't keep the account of the bottoms and tops, but I think we got even!"

In the kitchen of the farm, Tru
showed them to a long table in the background, where about twelve place
settings for the breakfast were arranged. Each consisted of a coffee mug, a
small wooden cutting board and a knife.Choosing places side by side, Tru introduced Adam and Vic to the
breakfast habits on the farm. The coffee was hot, bread fresh, the homemade jam
delicious and the sausages fat and juicy.

"No wonder that Pete and
his brothers are such hunks." Vic japed, "You better keep Pete on
diet Tru; otherwise he will crush you to death one night!"

"You are just envious about
me, Vic, because Adam is nothing but skin and bone!"

They were still teasing each
other when the kitchen door swung open and Johnny entered followed by Pete.
Johnny was frowning and Pete smiled anxiously, "Come here by me,
Trewin!" Johnny commanded sternly. Tru went pale, but obeyed. Pete big
brother was suddenly all grins. He took the small teen in a bear hug and
hollered, "A hearty welcome to you Tru, my little Brother. Pete confessed
everything to me and I am glad he did." turning to Pete, "No need to
be in low spirits anymore, big boy! The sun is shining again!" and
integrating Adam and Vic in the circle of friendship, he affirmed "All
problems will be solved in due time, I will take care of it."

Just then little Billy came in,
shouting excitedly "Grandpa got a new colt this night! Have you seen it
Uncle Pete?" jumping into Tru's arms, "Come with me to the stable,
Tru, please! You will like it, its coal black!"

Wagging his
finger at little Billy, Johnny told his son, "From now on, he's Uncle Tru
to you Billy, remember! Tru belongs to the family now."

*.*.*

After the breakfast, the four
teens went down to the cabins to clean up the place. Having collected all the
rubbish from the birthday party yesterday, Adam and Vic went on to the creek to
look for trout, while Pete and Tru stayed behind.

Relaxing lazily in the late
September sun, Tru suddenly began to frantically search his pockets.

"Need a hanky dear?"
Pete asked considerate.

"No!" Tru blushed, then pulled out a small box wrapped in red paper and tied up
with a blue ribbon. With a slight bow he handed it Pete, "My birthday
present for you, Pete! Yesterday I didn't dare to give it to you! But today I
know you will not laugh at me!"

Pete removed the blue ribbon and
the red wrapping, and then he opened the box. Inside, placed on a white cushion
were two bracelets made from silvery beads and letters in two shades of blue.
Both bracelets read be true, written in a very
individual way:

Pet+Tru+e

*.*.*

Broder:

The congress "Men and Environment"
was the biggest meeting of scientists and companies studying the human impact
on the environment and devising solutions for problems threatening the health
and welfare of mankind. Broder's company, the pSpWlimited (pure Water
pure Soil limited) belonged to the small, but ambitions group of
privately owned enterprises developing innovative systems for ground water
treatment and soil remediation. Broder's assignment at the congress was to
present a novel, very complex system of treating polluted ground waters to a
group of specialists. He had to give his presentation in one of the Friday
afternoon sessions.

The whole Friday morning Broder was present at
the company booth sporting the ambitious slogan -pSpW-your partner for a better world-. His
assignment was to introduce interested visitors from communal authorities and
industrial companies to pSpW's
new systems.

In the afternoon he rehearsed his
presentation, because he hated to talk in front of big audiences despite his
expertise as an engineer. The presentation went well after he had overcome his
initial stage fright. After the speech he had to answer many questions of he
interested participants of the session. Back at the company booth, the CEO of pSpWcongratulated Broder, "You did
really great. It will be your merit, if the company flourishes." and after
a slight pause he added with a grin, "You deserve an increase of your
salary, but you will get it only if you stock up yours son's allowance, too.
Living with Adam changed you a lot! You are a lot more communicative since you
have adopted the kid."

The CEO had invited Broder to join him, his
wife and some friends for a formal dinner in a first rate restaurant. Arriving
too early at the reserved table, Broder tried to call up Adam on the cell
phone. But the connection was dead and he left a message in the phone box. He
wasn't alarmed at all, guessing correctly that at eight
pm the birthday party was still in full swing.

Watching the arriving guests, he was startled up
by a tap on the shoulder and an unknown voice, "Hey Broder, old boy! How
are you, we haven't seen us for more than fifteen years now."

Turning around Broder's eyes fell upon a
massive man with a balding forehead in flashy clothes.

"Don't you remember me? I am Earl, I was with you at pSpW!"

Now Broder remembered him. He was the nice
looking, slender guy trying in vain to introduce him to the gay scene.

"Yea, sure I remember you now! You have
changed a lot Earl!"

"You too! I have heard,
your have been quite successful lately, not only in your profession, but also
in your private matters!" Earl said with a smirk.

Broder stared at this former colleague in
surprise, "I am afraid, I don't know what you are hinting at! Private
matters?"

"The rumor is you got a nice little boy
friend now, a boy-toy. Back then, I didn't know you are into boys!"

Broder rose angrily and was about to hit the
insolent guy, when the soft voice of a woman said firmly, "Calm down Mr.
Ryder and you, you shameless fellow better leave our table, quick."

"My husband and I are guests of pSpW limited too. My husband is running the
Earth-Tec. I am sure you know each other."

"Right, we did some projects together!
But what do you know of my private life and of Adam? I do not remember having
met you before!"

"You did! I met you and your nice son
about ten days ago at his first-day-of-school-day
dinner! My older sister and I shared a table with you! She still raves about
that perfect father and son team. Don't care about a
fellow like this, he is a disgrace for mankind!"

*.*.*

Adam
called back but not until noon the next day. "It was a great party, Dad. I am
so glad you arranged the sleep over with Pete's father." Adam was talking
his head off, "Pete got the equipment for his own Jugger Team! You do not
know Jugger-----"

Finally
Broder was able to stop Adam, "And how about Tru and Pete, are they
friends again?"

"More
than that, they are boyfriends now and Pete's big brother Johnny appointed Tru
as his honorary brother and little Billy's Uncle!"

"I
may be able to pick you up around eleven, if I leave around seven in the
morning Adam. Is this ok with you, son?"

"So soon? Can't you arrive later? Pete's mother asked us boys
to attend Sunday service with the Tyler family and in the afternoon, there will be a Jugger
match from two to four."

"I
thought you were longing for home and now it looks as if I am uncalled
for!"

"No
Dad! I love you. I just promised Pete to make his parents happy by attending
the morning service and join his team in the afternoon! Please attend the game,
Dad!" after a moment, "Another thing Dad, dear Dad, I am invited to
the turkey hunt at Thanksgiving, about four weeks from now. Can I attend?"

"Granted you pest, both wishes!" Broder laughed in the phone, "I will be at Tyler's farm early in the afternoon!"

*.*.*

The
first Jugger match of Dartsborough was in full swing at Tyler's farm, when Broder arrived around half past two. The Weird Varans fought their first battle against a
team set up from the other member of the soccer team. The invitation for the
match had been spread by Pete and Tru by initiation of a telephone tree and
most of his class mates decided spontaneously to join the happening.

Pete,
Tru, Adam and Vic belonged to the team of the Weird Varans. The team was filled
up by Brad, Sally and Mel. At his arrival at the sports field, Broder as well
as most of the other parents, had noted with surprise that both teams were
mixed. Becoming aware of the inquiring looks of the adults, Mel, the class
representative, announced, "Pete asked all of us to join the teams,
because Jugger is a match for girls and boys! And we girls joined gladly,
because we advocate for equal rights!"

The
Weird Varans did wear bright yellow t-shirts with the emblem of the dragon,
while their opponents used simple white t-shirts. All the players looked
dangerous, because they had painted their faces with different colours like
Indian warriors.

The
game was in the second of three terms, when Broder arrived. The score was 5 to 7 against the Weird Varans, because their opponents
were all sturdy players of the soccer team. Tru was the qwik, the unarmed
runner and was the only one allowed to touch the skull. The small teen was just
sprinting for his life to sink the skull into the stake. He succeeded, because
Pete, one of the three enforcers, defended him vigorously with the polearm. The
other enforcers were Adam and Vic, while Brad was handling the chain. At nine
stones to the end second third, Mel and Sally were waiting on the sideline as
substitutes. The Weird Varans lost the second third. Therefore the teams were
even, because the scores were 4 to 3 and 6 to 7. The winner had to be eked out
in the third round.

In
the break, Adam spotted Broder in standing alone at the sideline. He stormed to
him, touched him with his sword and commanded "pinned". When Broder
tried to push away the sword, Adam explained. "Pinned" means, you have to wait till I remove my weapon. Then Adam put
down his sword, laughed, hugged Broder and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"It's
a great fun! Pete, Vic, Tru and I, we are already are attuned well to playing
Jugger because we practised yesterday, nearly all the afternoon. Brad, Mel and
Sally joined us just today. They need training!"

Meanwhile
Mel's mother joined the two, "Are you Adam's father, right? Broder Ryder?
I am Mel's mother. I think we should know each other. Did you and your brother
attend Oakville High more than 20 years back? Was his first name
Gregg?"

"Yes,
Gregg is my brother, he is five years my junior. And what's your first
name."

She
dragged him to where the other parents were chatting and introduced him. Broder
felt awkward at first, but the welcome of the Tyler's and the other parents
made Broder feel comfortable on the spot.

The
last third finished 5 to 3 for the Weird Varans, mainly because Pete, as the
strongest, took the chain and successfully cleared the way for the qwiks, at first for Mel and then for Tru.

*.*.*

Broder
had arrived with his beloved but battered pick-up. This posed a problem,
because he only could place two people in the passenger seat. When Broder
discussed what to do with Mr. Tyler, Pete intervened, "Daddy, why can't
Tru stay over till tomorrow? I want to spend another night with my truelo...!" turning red as a beat, he started again,
"Daddy do you mind having Tru over for another night? Remember I missed
school on Friday and Tru could show me what I have missed."

Riding
home in the pick-up with Broder, Vic asked Adam, "Did you get that Pete
told his father he wants to spend another night with his truelove?" Adam,
not wanting to spill the news to Broder pretended to be deaf.

But
Broder had listened to the conversation and asked, "Pete and Tru are friends
again, aren't they?"

"Probably
more than that, Dad, they decided to stay together for ever. But Dad, don't
breathe it to the Tylers, please, they are not out yet. Only Vic, Johnny and I
know their secret!"

At
home Broder questioned Adam, "And you and Vic? Are you boyfriends also?
You have only known each other for about a week!"

After
a long period of silence, Adam asked back, "Would you mind if Vic and I
are boyfriends?" When Broder didn't reply, Adam continued, after
reflecting his feelings carefully, "I love Vic, and I know he loves me
too. But we both know we are not old enough to decide for ever." and after
deliberating the problem again, "Broder would you object to raising a gay
son? Please, say you won't! I want to stay with you, I need you Dad!"

At
bedtime Adam called Broder from his room, "You haven't answered my last
question jet, Dad. Would you throw me out, if it turns out I am gay?"

"Don't
you know Adam I need you as much as you need me! I will always love you! You
are my son!"

Later
in his bed, Broder couldn't get the chorus of a tune out of his mind, a tune he
couldn't place at first:

Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spend it with you
Oh, such a perfect dayYou just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on

Straining
his head, he recalled it was Lou Reed's song about dope and addiction. At first
he shook his head because he couldn't tell why he remembered the song just this
evening. But suddenly the truth dawned upon him. He chuckled to himself,
repeating over and over, "Adam is my dope! I got addicted to Adam the
moment I found him! Oh, it's such a perfect life!"

*.*.*

AUTHOR NOTE

The Giant
Story/Mouse tale referred to in the preface, are two
"half-picture-books" by AnnegretFuchshuber bound back to back. The message of this unusual
book is that seemingly irresolvable differences
cannot come in the way of good friendships.

Information
on the sport Jugger is given in Wikipedia and in www.jugger.org.au
in English language and in www.Jugger.de in German.
The Australian Jugger League defines this sport
as: Jugging is game that has been described as 'Medieval Footbal'
it is played by two teams of five players armed with an assortment of padded
'weapons'

I would like to express my special
thanks to TSL for editing and valuable help with the manuscript.

Comments, reviews, questions and
complaints are welcomed. Please send them to ruwenrouhs@hotmail.de.

And I would like to add, thanks for
reading.

My other story on Nifty is Buzzards, Hawks and Ravens in the
Historical section.

The author copyrights this story
and retains all rights. This work may not be duplicated in any form – physical,
electronic, audio, or otherwise – without the author's expressed permission. All applikable Copyright lawsapply.